Styptic Pencil Uses: Home Remedies for Minor Cuts & Bleeding

A styptic pencil is a must for all home first-aid kits. Made of aluminum or titanium dioxide, a styptic pencil can be applied to minor cuts to stop bleeding. In addition, some styptic pencils contain astringents, allowing for some disinfection of the wound area. Below are some uses for the styptic pencil at home.

Shaving Cuts

• Even if a shaving cut may be minor, there may still be some bleeding involved. If the bleeding cut is superficial and not too deep, moisten the styptic pencil and apply it directly on the wound. Within a couple of minutes, the blood in the wound should coagulate, stopping the bleeding.

Stinging Nettle

• When stinging nettle comes into contact with skin, it causes a very uncomfortable stinging sensation. If you happen to come across stinging nettle in your yard, apply the styptic pencil to the irritated areas. The powder on the styptic pencil should alleviate the discomfort of the stinging nettle within a couple of minutes.

Pet Nail Clipping

• Trimming your pet's nails can be hazardous if you are not careful. If you accidentally cut your dog's or cat's nail too short and they begin bleeding, you can apply the tip of a moist styptic pencil to the affected nail to stop the bleeding. While the powder on the styptic pencil may sting the area slightly, the sensation is minor and the cut should heal promptly.